The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra has won 68 seats in the yet-to-be-held civic body elections following the exit of all rival candidates. BJP leader Keshav Upadhye confirmed on Friday that 44 leaders from the party had been elected unopposed. The Shiv Sena saw 22 leaders ‘elected’ while two NCP lawmakers were also inducted. A probe was launched after Opposition parties alleged that the ruling combine had used threats and money to force candidates to withdraw from the fray.
68 leaders elected
68 candidates from the Mahayuti were elected unopposed on Friday as numerous candidates withdrew their nominations. This included 44 from the BJP — with the highest number from Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Thane district, followed by Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Panvel, Bhiwandi, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahilyanagar. BJP leaders attributed the trend to the popularity of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and what they described as the successful electoral strategy of state unit president Ravindra Chavan.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol also hailed the victory of BJP candidates Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap from Pune ahead of the polls. He also assured that the next mayor of Pune would be from the party.
“We have a target of 125 seats, out of which we have already won two, so 123 are remaining. Two seats were won unopposed. This is a certificate for our party’s good governance,” Mohol said.
‘Mobocracy in the name of democracy’
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have accused the ruling dispensation of using money and threats to pressurise opposition candidates into withdrawing from the fray. The Election Commission has reportedly initiated an inquiry to determine whether the nominations were indeed withdrawn for such reasons.
“These withdrawals of nomination were to be considered as if they had been presented before the 3 pm deadline on Friday. A friend of mine, who is in this election process, said this (accepting the form beyond 3 pm) would not be appropriate. He was told by the guardian minister, in a tone that sounded both a request and as a threat, that he should listen to what the local MLA says. This is mobocracy in the name of democracy. One day, there will be a public uprising like in Bangladesh and Nepal,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut
“Why do you hold polls if you want to win them before voting. Both the ruling parties should distribute it amongst themselves. Democracy has ended in India and the state. They chose weak candidates of the opposition and got their work done,” added MNS leader Avinash Jadhav.